Ted Gillies was a dominant player from the start of his hockey career in school through university, St. John’s and provincial hockey. His performances on a continuing basis, in whatever competition he was playing, earned him recognition as one of the very best players produced in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Extremely fast and very strong as a skater, he was also very quick with his stick work and puck control, he contributed much to any team of which he was a member. He simply could skate, stickhandle, pass and shoot with amazing ability and skill and was especially effective along the boards and in the corners.

But it was really his free wheeling style through the center ice area that made him extremely dangerous to his opponents. He was very able to skate around or go through opposing defences and scored with great regularity. Important goals at crunch times were his specialty.

After a very successful school hockey career, Ted Gillies played hockey with Concordia University in Montreal prior to joining the S. Bons senior team in 1946. While the majority of his career was spent with St. Bon’s and St. John’s All-Stars, he played one season of professional hockey with North Carolina.

He played an extremely important role in four Herder Memorial Trophy and provincial championship seasons for St. Bon’s from 1946 to ’49. For the next four years he was very important as St. Bons won Eastern Newfoundland senior titles and, despite some difficult circumstances were very competitive against import supported Central Newfoundland clubs.

His leadership and performances were vital for St. Bons teams that registered 14 consecutive St. John’s senior championship seasons as winners of the Boyle Trophy from 1946 to 1959. Ted Gillies’ St. John’s senior hockey career was overflowing with scoring titles, most valuable player awards and best sportsmanship awards.

He established himself as one of the best hockey players in the athletic history of Newfoundland and Labrador and has been among the top players in any poll conducted to access all-time, all-star teams. He was voted St. John’s Athlete of the Year for 1952 and 1953 and he was inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame in 1985. In all cases his hockey prowess was a major factor in these recognitions.